It wasn't uncommon for boys to lie about their age in order to serve during the war. Coy Smith was eager to serve his country and put his hard-working skills to the test. At 16 years old, he lied about his age in order to enlist in the United States Navy. He spent his Navy days helping transport people from the airport to the bases. Right before being sent overseas to war, sickness overcame Coy and he became confined to a hospital bed. He ended up spending a year and a half on the naval base before being discharged.
He then went straight to work and became an excellent machinist. He created parts for the first nuclear submarine in the 1950s, parts for spacecraft in the 1960s and landing gear for F/A-18 fighter jets and Boeing passenger planes in the 1980s. Coy spent the later part of his life working with family building local homes in his small Missouri town. At 92 years old, Coy peacefully passed away on September 17th, 2019 surrounded by his loving wife and supportive family in Missouri. Coy's positive outlook on life and contagious smile will never be forgotten.
